Drug Approvals: Circumstances under which an active ingredient may be simultaneously marketed in both a prescription drug product and an over-the-counter drug product

FDA Comment Number :

EC1464

Submitter :

Miss. Gwen Murray

Date & Time:

10/28/2005 03:10:44

Organization :

Miss. Gwen Murray

Category :

Individual Consumer

Issue Areas/Comments

1

A. Should FDA initiate a rulemaking to codify its interpretation of section 503(b) of the action regarding when an active ingredient can be simultaneously marketed in both prescription drug product and an OTC drug product?

The Food and Drug Administration should simply approve without further delay over-the-counter (OTC) sale of emergency contraception - with no prescriptions required for any age group. This obviates the need for any new rulemaking. The two advisory FDA committees that exhaustively reviewed data in December 2003 found that emergency contraception was safe and effective and consequently recommended OTC approval.
When the age restriction was suggested at the December Advisory Committee meetings, the FDA staff noted then that it has been the policy of the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Drug Products to make no distinction between post-pubescent adolescents and adult women insofar as contraceptive use is concerned. The Advisory Committee members then rejected the age restriction proposal.
The apparent move by the agency to restrict access to young women, 16 years of age and younger, therefore flies in the face of the recommendations of the majority of respected medical professional associations and the government's own stated policy.

1.

A. Should FDA initiate a rulemaking to codify its interpretation of section 503(b) of the act regarding when an active ingredient can be simultaneously market in both a prescription drug product and an OTC drug product?

Fix your survey.

B. Is there significant confusion regarding FDA's interpretation of section 503(b) of the act?

The FDA's apparent intent to limit access by age has muddled what should have been a clear- cut decision to approve OTC sale of this safe and effective emergency contraception.

C. If so, would a rulemaking on this issue help dispet that confusion?

A proposed rule with its lengthy comment and review process is being suggested only to drag out the time period before a final decision on EC - OTC is made. It is completely unnecessary!

2

A. If FDA limited sale of an OTC product to a particular subpopulation, e.g., by making the product available to the subpopulation by prescription only, would FDA be able to enforce such a limitation as a matter of law?

We are all familiar with items that are sold only to purchasers over a certain age, including alcohol, tobacco, and the nicotine patch. However asking for identification is both burdensome and unnecessary - and is an unacceptable intrusion on personal privacy with regard to medical care. Limiting sale of emergency contraception to young women is a terrible idea, and it is simply inappropriate to deny young women the means to prevent pregnancy. The FDA's job is to determine safety and efficacy, NOT to serve as the "morality police" on behalf of any special interest or religious group.

B. If it could, would it be able to do so as practical matter and, if so, how?

Such a move would be intrusive for all young women who would be required to show personal identification as a proof of age.

3

A. Assuming it is legal to market the same active ingredient in both a prescription and OTC product, may the different products be legally sold in the same package?

Making EC universally available would obviate the need for separate packaging.

B. If the two products may be lawfully sold in a single package, under what circumstances would it be inappropriate to do so?

There would not be any circumstances that would be inappropriate for a single package.

GENERAL

GENERAL

Some kids are going to have sex no matter what their parents or role models preach, and it is much more important to support a women's right to make her own choice (no matter her age!) than herd everyone down the same path.